Real Radio
 |
| Broadcast area |
Northern England (excluding Cumbria), Central Scotland, Wales |
| Slogan |
Real good, feel good radio |
| Frequency |
various |
| Format |
Adult Contemporary |
| Language(s) |
English |
| Audience share |
1.9% (across network) (December 2012, [1]) |
| Owner |
Global Radio |
| Sister stations |
The Arrow, Capital, Chill, Choice FM, Classic FM, Gold, Heart, Jazz FM, LBC, Real Radio XS, Smooth Radio, Xfm |
| Website |
Real Radio |
Real Radio is a network of adult contemporary independent local radio stations in northern England, central Scotland and Wales. It is owned by Global Radio and operated by Real and Smooth Limited.
History [edit]
Real Radio stations launch [edit]
A licence for South Wales was won in October 2000[2] alongside North and Mid Wales in December 2008 creating Real Radio Wales.[3] Scot FM relaunched as Real Radio Scotland in January 2002 after being acquired from The Wireless Group.[2] GMG Radio owned Variety FM won the South and West Yorkshire licence in March 2002 and Real Radio Yorkshire launched.[4][5]
Century FM stations in North East England and North West England were acquired from GCap Media in October 2006.[6][7][8] These two stations were rebranded as Real Radio North East and Real Radio North West in March 2009.[3]
Global Radio buyout of GMG Radio [edit]
On 25 June 2012 it was announced Global Radio (the owner of stations such as Capital and Heart) had bought GMG Radio,[9] however the GMG radio stations would continue to operate separately until a regulatory review into the sale is carried out.[10]
On 11 October 2012, The Secretary of State Maria Miller announced Global Radio's takeover of GMG Radio would not be investigated on the grounds of plurality.[11] The Competition Commission was due to publish its final report on 27 March 2013.[12] On 21 February 2013 it was confirmed the decision whether Global Radio can take over all GMG Radio's assets would be delayed, until 22 May 2013, two months later than planned.[13]
On 21 May 2013 the Competition Commission published their final report into Global Radio's acquisition of GMG Radio. Global must sell radio stations in seven areas of the UK. The stations Global will be required to sell are as follows:[14]
Overview [edit]
Real Radio broadcasts music[15] and regionally focused chat, news and sport for thirty-something adults.[16] Real Radio is available on FM across Wales, Central Scotland, in England across the North West, North East and South and West Yorkshire, as well as in most major UK regions on DAB digital radio online while Wales is also available on Sky and Freeview.
In addition to the above listed stations, Real Radio also operated a digital-only station, Real Radio (Digital), which broadcast on DAB in several areas where Real did not broadcast on analogue, and also broadcast on Sky. In 2008, Real Digital closed, replaced by the new Jazz FM (UK) in several locations (it was replaced by Rock Radio in the North East and by a relay of Real Radio Wales on Sky).[citation needed]
Stations [edit]
The five stations in the United Kingdom operated under the Real Radio banner are:
| Broadcast area |
FM Frequency |
Branding |
Slogan |
Note(s) |
| Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, Teesside |
100–102FM [17] |
Real Radio North East |
Real good, feel good radio |
|
| Central Scotland |
100–101FM [18] |
Real Radio Scotland |
| Manchester, Liverpool, Crewe, Preston, Blackpool, Chester |
105.4FM [19] |
Real Radio North West |
| Wales |
88, 102 and 105-108 FM [20] |
Real Radio Wales |
Available on Sky channel 0146 |
| Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley |
106–108FM [21] |
Real Radio Yorkshire |
|
Listening share decline [edit]
The two former Century FM stations in the North East and North West now have half the listeners they once had.[22][23] Both have seen a decline in Listening Share In TSA % when comparing Q2 period in 2011 and 2012, from 6.30% to 4.8%, and 3.9% to 3.0% respectively.[24] Figures in Scotland have also lowered whilst Wales and Yorkshire remain steady.[25]
Presenters [edit]
On 15 October 2012, it was announced existing Real Radio North West presenters Darren Parks and Debbie Mac would begin networking their respective daytime programmes across the five stations. Weekday breakfast & drivetime and late weekend breakfast shows remain local. The changes came into effect on 5 November 2012.[26]
Networked presenters [edit]
- David Heane (Sunday–Thursday evenings, Saturday drivetime)
- Marc Henry (Thursday–Friday overnights, Saturday & Sunday late nights)
- Elisa Hilton (Monday–Wednesday overnights, Friday & Saturday evenings)
- Jo Lloyd (Sunday–Friday afternoons)
|
- Debbie Mac (returns Summer 2013)
- Dave Miller (Saturday & Sunday overnights)
- Darren Parks (Monday–Friday mornings, Saturday afternoon)
- Carl Spencer (Saturday & Sunday early breakfast)
|
Syndicated presenters [edit]
|
|
- Kat Shoob (The Vodafone Big Top 40 on Sunday drivetime)
|
Local presenters [edit]
|
North East
- Sarah Graham (Saturday & Sunday mornings)
- Justin Lockwood (Monday–Friday drivetime)
- Gary Philipson (Real Radio Breakfast)
- Kelly Scott (Monday–Friday drivetime)
- Lisa Shaw (Real Radio Breakfast)
|
North West
- Lorna Bancroft (Feel Good Breakfast)
- Glen Hunt (Feel Good Breakfast)
- Oli Kemp (Monday–Friday drivetime, Saturday morning)
- Jo Lloyd (Sunday morning)
|
Scotland
- Ewen Cameron (Real Radio Breakfast)
- Cat Harvey (Real Radio Breakfast)
- Paul Harper (Monday–Friday drivetime)
- Steve McKenna (Saturday & Sunday mornings)
|
|
Wales
- Dave Brookes (Saturday & Sunday mornings)
- Jason Harrold (Monday–Friday drivetime)
- Simon Jagger (Real Radio Breakfast)
- Chris Wood (Real Radio Breakfast)
|
Yorkshire
- Ian Brannan (Monday–Friday drivetime)
- Dave Dixon (Real Radio Breakfast)
- Pete Edgerton (Sunday morning)
- Guy Harris (Saturday morning)
- Gayle Lofthouse (Real Radio Breakfast)
|
External links [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Quarter listening RAJAR
- ^ a b GMG Radio wins Yorkshire radio licence Georgina Lipscomb, Broadcast, 18 July 2001
- ^ a b GMG Radio sale: Look back at group’s history Radio Today, 25 June 2012
- ^ name=broadcast>
- ^ Radio Authority publishes assessment of South and West Yorkshire licence award Ofcom, 23 July 2001
- ^ Guardian buys GCap radio stations Julia Day, The Guardian, 18 October 2006
- ^ GMG Radio purchase Century FM Radio Today, 18 October 2006
- ^ Who are Real Radio? Real Radio North East
- ^ Global Radio seals £50m purchase of GMG Radio Maisie McCabe, Media Week, 25 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
- ^ GMG Radio sold to Global for £50m Mark Sweeney, The Guardian, 25 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
- ^ No plurality issues for Global GMG merger Radio Today, 11 October 2012
- ^ Date set for Global Radio’s CC results Radio Today, 11 October 2012
- ^ CC delays Global GMG takeover decision Radio Today, 21 February 2013
- ^ Global/GMG final report Competition Commission, 21 May 2013
- ^ Playlist Real Radio North East
- ^ New logos and marketing for Real Radio Radio Today, 26 March 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
- ^ Listen on Radio Real Radio North East
- ^ Listen on Radio Real Radio Scotland
- ^ Listen to Radio Real Radio North West
- ^ Listen on Radio Real Radio Wales
- ^ Listen on Radio Real Radio Yorkshire
- ^ Real Radio North East: audience figures Media UK, August 2012
- ^ Real Radio North West: audience figures Media UK, August 2012
- ^ RAJAR
- ^ Around the groups and brands in Q2, 2012 Radio Today, 2 August 2012
- ^ Real Radio introduces networked daytimes Radio Today, 15 October 2012
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